Birthday Girls Need Princess Gear

Because it's her birthday, I let Baby Herald (I know, no longer a baby) wear her Halloween costume this morning.

Trying really hard to smile for the camera!

For the last two months, she has insisted on being a princess for Halloween. I'd be much happier if she were wearing a Gloria Steinem or Eleanor Roosevelt costume, but she's 3. So I'm going to have to settle for a princess. And princesses need crowns and princess shoes. This is why princess moms go to H&M, Kmart, or jcpenney, because all three are good princess-gear destinations. The above tiara I found at H&M, where I also picked her up a new pair of princess shoes (below), because we grew out of our last two pairs. 

This princess dress is a hand-me-down, but trust me: you're not going to have any trouble finding a princess dress, or a tutu on 34th Street. Nowadays it's totally acceptable to go out in a tutu any time of year if you're under the age of 10. Unless you're Betsey Johnson, then you can wear them every day and to bed.

Happy birthday to my Arm Baby! If she ever is Eleanor Roosevelt for Halloween, I promise to post a photo then, too. And it wouldn't be a Baby Herald birthday post if I didn't post this photo of us when she was less than a month old:

Yup, she's beautiful to me no matter what she's wearing. Past birthday posts here, here and here. 

H&M Herald Square

34th Street and Broadway

Kmart Penn Plaza

34th Street and Seventh Avenue

jcpenney Manhattan Mall

33rd Street and Sixth Avenue

For Future Teenager-Tormenting Photos

I never, ever, ever thought I would subject a daughter of mine to mother-daughter matchy dressing. Then I saw the Sonia Rykiel pour H&M girls collection online. I don't think I can be held responsible. Warning: I may go a little crazy tomorrow morning on 34th & Broadway or 34th & 7th Avenue. Both our H&Ms are carrying the line. Beware, Arm Baby.

Strawberry Wednesday

Because it's in-between-holidays week, and WendyB agrees, I'm forging on with the Berry today and tomorrow. And then it's Happy New Year's to you all! I was pretty happy with 2009, but it did bring me Arm Baby. This favorite nickname was inspired by all the people in our old-school hood who said, when seeing us carrying our daughter, "Don't hold her too much, you're going to end up with an Arm Baby!" and "She'll never let you put her down!" I love this, because it evokes cartoon visions of me holding Arm Baby when she's like, you know, 16. And wearing stuff like this:

You don't have to pay more than $30 for this faux fur trend. And this faux-leather vest is under $10 on clearance.
















Lots of sweater minis at Strawberry on sale for $9.99. Keep the tassel or hack it off.








Loads of leggings from $6.99-$9.99.














There are lots of different colored leggings with the ankle cut-out. Click on the black leggings to see the v. cute pattern.















Strawberry Empire State Building, on 34th between 5th & 6th Avenues
Strawberry Manhattan Mall, level 2, 33rd & 6th Avenue